Bottle-capping machine.



J. A. MOANULTY.

BOTTLE OAPPING MACHINE.

APPLIOATION FILED N0V.21,1907.

' 917,344. Patented Apr. 6, 1909.

4 SHEETS-SHEET l.

J. A. MoANULTY. BOTTLE GAPPING MACHINE.

APBLIOATION E'ILED NOV.21,1907.

Patented Apr. 6,1909.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

we in eases QMM J. A. MGANULTY.

BOTTLE CAPPING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED NOV. 21, 1907.

917,344. Patented Apr. 6, 1909.

4 SHEETSSHEET 3.

J. A. MOANULTY.

BOTTLE CAPPING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED NOV. 21, 1907.

917,344. Patented Apr. 6, 1909.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 4.

' i To all whom it concern:

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JOHN ARMSTRONG MCANULTY, OF BALTIMORE, MARYLAND.

BOTTLE-CAPPIN G MACHINE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented April 6, 1909.

7 Application filed November 21, 1907. Serial No. 403,199.

-Be'it known t at I, JOHN Aiiiiis'rnoNe MOANULTY, a citizen of the United States,v

and a resident of the city of Baltimore, in

the State of Maryland, have invented certain newand useful Improvements in Bottle- Capping Machines, of" which the following is a specification;- i

r My invention relates to means for applying closing and sealing caps to bottles, by com pressing the flangeof'the cap into gripping.

relation to the head of the bottle;

Heretofore it has been proposed to secure to a bottle head, a cap provided with a compressiblepacking disk and a coarsely corrugated flange, byforcing a die (usually rigid) down over the corrugated flange of the cap'in such manner that, by contact with the ,outwardly presented relatively large ridges, those inwardly resented were forced into such gripping re ation beneath the lip or other prominent portion of the bottle head, as to draw the packing down- \ward into-sealing relation'to the mouth of the bottle. In this :fOl'lll of closure, a top packing which is alone relied upon to hermetically close the rece tacle, is neces sarily made ofa thick an expensive material :such as cork, and the best results obtainable with this system are accompanied y a considerable percentage of: de ective workiand breakage. Y Y 1 1 ,1 One object of my invention is to reduce the breakage in sealing bottles which is liable to occur;m' consequence of irregularities in the dimensions of the bottles, to which end my invention consists in. ap lying the pressure through the inedium o a sprin which can be adjusted toany desired initia load so that the movement of the plunger will develop nomore than 'the pressure necessary to seal the bottle, and interposing in the-plunger, automatic means releasing the driving connection as soon as the desired pressure is developed.

, Another object ,ofmy invention is to Q secure more perfect sealing and more nearly uniform treatment of the entire cap flange,

notwithstanding the irregularities in the circumference of the bottle head, and also todevelop more complete compression in the flange, to which end my invention consists in providing a sealing device comprising a reducing member and a cap-compressing or forming means hereinafter referred to as the forming meansjthe latter being divided into upper and lower sections, 7

having compressing faces conforming to the shape of the bott e at points over which they press, one of which impinges the base and, preferably, a portion of the side of the cap while the'other impinges the remaining part of the flange of the cap below the forming means, notwithstanding irregularities in the head of the bottle; the relations of the two sections of the forming means to each other and of the forming means to the reducing memb'er'being such that the resistance of the bottle to the downward movement of the inner and upper segmental forming section causes the outer segmental forming section to closearound the flange,

after which the downward movement of the reducing member forces all the segments of both sections of the forming member inward to perform the sealing, and when the reducing member again rises, the sections of the forming means are automatically opened to release the cap. 7

Another object of my invention is to provide means whereby the sealing stroke of the machine is automatically repeated, soas to deliver two successive strokes each time the machine is released by operation of the clutch treadle, the bottle bein slightly ro- 'tate'd between these two stro es in'order that the forming means may treat every circumferential point in the cap alike, and avoid leaks at points in the cap, corresponding to the dividing planes of the segmentsofthe forming means i To this end my invention consists in providing a spring-pressed dog which automatically assumes a position above the arrestingstop each time the latter is depressed to release the clutch pin, which dog how;

ever, is engaged by the clutch-pin during its; first revolution anddisplacedto permit re-;

turn of the arresting stop, such displacement,

however, being accom lished only after the clutch in has passe the point at which it can lie arrested by the stop, so that it w ill complete another revolution before the clutch is thrown out and the working stroke of the machine interrupted.

In addition to the features carrying out the functions above enumerated, my invention further consists in details of construc tion, as well as combinations and relations of parts incident to the preferred embodiments of the several features, all of which will be fully understood upon reference to the accompahying drawings, in which,

Figures 1 and 2 are elevations of a complete sealing machine embodying the several features of my invention, seen in two positions at right angles to each other. Figs. 3

and 4 are sectional views of the spring plunger and lost motion device through which the pressure imposed upon the bottle through the sealing device is weighed notwithstanding variations in the length of the bottle; Fig.3 showin the position assumed by the parts when t e pressure is applied and Fig. 4 showing the positions assumed by the parts after the pressure has been applied to the bottle. Figs. 5 and dare respectively a-top and a bottom lan View of the -parts shown in Figs. 3 an 4. Figs. 7'and 8 are axial sections through the sealing device, the former being taken in one of the dividing planes of the forming means and the latter eing taken in-one of the dividing planes of the reducing member; said views showing the positions of the parts when the sealing pressure is on the bottle and when the bottle is released, respectively. Figs. 9, and 1.0 are bottom plan views showing the parts and positions thereof shown in Figs. 7 and 8, respectively. Fig. ll'is a detail view sho': ing t e clutch and its controlling pedal. Figs. 12 and 13 are detail views showing the means for dogging the arresting stop of the clutch in the position to n hich it is depressed b the treadle, the former illustrating the positions assumed by the. parts when the clutch vis arrested and the latter showing the positions assumed by the parts when the arresting stop is held down. Fig. 14 is a perspective view of the dog.

. Referring to Figs. 1 and 2, I prefer to employ a standard 1 provided with a suitable ass 2 and with supporting or uiding brackets 3, 4, 5, 6, and 7, of which racket 3 carries the adjustable su port 8 for the bottle, the bracket 4 carries the guide 9 for said bottle, the bracket 5 provides a slide bearing 10 for the sealin plunger 11, the bracket 6 provides a slide earin 12 for the head 13 and the bracket 7 provi es bearings for the shaft '14 which may be driven by a pulley 15 and which carries the eccentric 1'6 transmitting -16G1P1O0tti11g motion through pitrnan 17 to the head 13, and havin a. clutch 18 intermittently released by t e treadle 19 to establish driving connection bet'ween the shaft and eccentric. These parts, broadl considered, are not of my invention an need not be more specifically described.

Referring to ligs. 3 to .6, the seahng plunger 11 carries the sealing attachment 20 at its lower end and comprises a spring barrel having a erforated head 21 screw-thread: ed in the ower end thereof and ada ted to be rotated by its nut 22 to adjust 'itsposition therein, a vertically movable stem 23 provided with a fixed shoulder 24 and a 5 ring 25 confined between the shoulder and the adjustable head 21. Shoulder 24limits the upward movement of stem 23 in the barrel and the lower end of said stem is guided by the head 21. Downward pressure on the stem 23 is transmitted to the barrel 20 only 8.5 through the spring 25. By adjusting the head 21 to determine the inltial load on the spring 25, the degree of pressure to be imparted through the spring may be accurately pre-determined. To hunt the sealing pressure applied to a bottle and adapt.tl 1e lunger to impart the same pressure to bott es of different engths, without changing the stroke of the n1achin,.I providemeans whereby the compressing stem receives only certain limitedfidownward movement sufficient to develop the desired degree of pressure, after contact of the sealing attachment with the bottle, after which further movement in the. stroke of the machine continues Without ef fect upon the bottle. This means comprises the head 13 in which the upper end of the stem 23 has a relative movement permitted by slot 26 through which its secunng pin 27 passes, and dogs 28 pivoted at 29 u on the stem 23, constructed with shoul ers 30 which receive the lower end of the head 13 and with spreading ends 31 that im inge the enlargement 32 on the spring barre 11. The first part of the downward movement of head 13 is transmitted through the dogs 2:8'to the stem 23 and through the spring 25 to the barrel 11 and sealing attachment 20. As soon, however, as the spring is com ressed to a degree which ermits the sprea ing ends 31 to 115 pass beneat 1 the enlargement 32, the head 13 is released from the shoulders 30, and further downward movement of head 13 to the limit of the stroke of the machine may take place without imparting further compression to the spring and since rod 23 is now free to slide in head 13, witl'iout longer exerting pressure upon the sealing member. The spring barrel 11 with the sealing attachment will be raised with the head 13, through friction of the parts and until the spring barrel ll is arrested by contact ohits shoulder 11" with the bearing 10, when the barrel will be held while head 13 continues to a point above the shoulders 30, at which time the spreading erases ends 31 will be displaced from the enlargement 32 under the action of the spring 25, the position of the pivots 29 relatively to the enlargement 32 being such as to cause the spreading ends 31 to draw away. The parts will then have the positions shown in Figs. 1 and 3. By shiftim the spring seat 21 in the barrel 11- the initia load on the spring may be varied and therefore the sealing pressure resulting from this initial ressure plus the additional pressure due to t e relative movement of the rod in the barrel maybe pre-determined at will. a

The sealing or capping attachment '20 comprises a reducing member 33, in the form of a dovmwardly presented flange 34, divided radially into a circumferential series of individually resilient fingers 35, and a forming means divided. into an upper inner section 36 and an outer section 37, each of which is made up of a circumferential series of segments, the segments of the outer section 37 being constructed with the outer inclined faces 38, the upper inturned ends 39 spaced apart to receive the limiting pin 40 by which the forming means is supported within the reducing member 33; also with the lower inwardly resented supporting shoulders 41, and wit 1 the lower mwardly presented compressing face 42. When su ported, as upon the head of a bottle, w e the reducing member moves downward relatively thereto the outer section of the -forming means will be contracted and its faces 42 will press the flange of the cap against the neck of the bottle; and being segmental, these compressing faces will conform to irregularities in the bottle. The upper and inner section of the inner forming means is confined between the shoulders or seat 41 and the ends 39, and is constructed with the lower inturned ends 43. The combined segments thus form a cap-cavity or die with base 43 and independent compressing faces 42, 45, forming the side wall of the cap-cavity or die. These compressing faces are undercut and are constructed to conform to the particular shape of the bottle head to be capped. Inward movement of the segments of the outer forming section is imparted to those of the inner forming section, and thus they react and supplement each other. The dividing planes of the one section do not coincide with those of the other; this relation being maintained by a p1n46 passing through an outer segment and etween two adjoining inner segments; that is to say, the segments break joints; hence they interlock and their combined compression is circumferentially continuous.- The inner forming segments impinge a higher portion of the flangethan the outer segments ut inasmuch as the cap flange is longitudinally stifiened by the ,crimping incident to manufacture of the caps, it follows that the compressing influence of each segment extends vertically beyond the immediate area of its impingement. v

47 re resents a spring which may be introduced etween the u per ends of the outer forming segments an the base of the reducing member 33 and when so introduced and while the segments rest upon the bolt 40, the spring tends to close the interlocking forming segments with sufiicient firmness to ada t them to grip and hold the cap to be app ied.

To adapt the device for different sizes of caps, a cap-plate 48 may be employed, which is removably held in place by its shank 49 passing through the base of the cap-cavity and its enlargement 50 engaging above said base, as shown in Fi 8; A plurality of these cap-plates may einterchangeably adapted, the segmental structure permitting them to be inserted and withdrawn at will.

The forming means is supported in the reducing member with such freedom of universal adjustment that it adapts itself to any inaccuracy in the sha .e of the bottle head, and thus greatly re uces breakage from this cause; and this adaptability is eiiective as to unevenness or irregularities in the upper edge of the bottle as well as to mere deflection of the lane thereof relatively to the axis of the ottle.

For the urpose of repeating the forming stroke for elivering two forming strokes to each cap, I employ a known construction comprising a treadle 19 rigidly secured upon the outer end of a spring-bar 51 which Whenever displaced by the pressure of the foot upon the treadle, returns to its normal position upon removal of the pressure. Said bar 51 is connected by a rod 52 with a stop 53 having a beveled face 54 in the path of the pin 55 on the movable clutch member 18" so as to displace the clutch member when the pin 55 contacts with said face 54, said stop also having a shoulder'56 which arrests the pin 55, parts being so arranged that each time the treadlc 19 is depressed, and the stop 53 drawn down, the clutch member 18 will be pressed into engagement by its spring 18 and the machine Will receive motion from the constantly running shaft 14 until pin 55 again contacts with the face 54. To provide for two revolutions before interruption of the clutch, I provide a dog 57 pivoted at 58 and having a spring 59 tending to throw it above the stop 53 so that each time the stop is depressed, the dog 57 enga es above it and prevents its return. But 0g 57 thus moves into the path of the pin 55 and on the first passageof the pin, dog 57 is'displaced to the position shown in Fig; 12 and the stop 53 rises; but this does not take place until after the in 55, has passed over the stop 53 and the c isplaeing and arresting member and adaptedto permit the reeipro- I engagement between the pin and the stop 53 does not occur until after one additional revolution of the clutch Between the two formin strokes of the machine thus developed, t e bottle maybe slightly rotated so as to distribute the points of compression more uniformly around the cap of the bottle.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new therein and desire to secure by Letters Patent is 1. In a capping machine having a reciprocating pressure developing means and a sealing device actuated by pressure therefrom, a spring through which the actuating ressure is transmitted'and means interruptmg the transmission of movement from the pressure developing means, after a predetermined compression of the spring has taken place, said means comprising a reliefmechanism mounted above the sealing device.

2. In a capping machine having a sealing device constructed to press the cap into sealing relation togthe bottle and a reciprocating actuating member, a spring through which the reciprocating member aetuates the sealing device by its movement in one direction, a releasing device carried by the actuating eating member to continue its movement independently of the spring after developing a predetermined compression in the latter.

3. In a capping machine having a sealing device constructed to press the cap into sealing relation to the bottle and a reciprocating actuating member, a spring through which the reciprocating member aetuates the sealing device by the first part of its movement in one direction, a releasing device actuated by said reciprocating member and adapted to permit the reciprocating member to con tinue its movement independently of the spring after a developing a predetermined compression in the latter, and means for ac tuatin said releasing device during the first part 0 the actuating movement.

4. In a capping machine having a sealing device constructed to press the cap into seal ing relation to the bottle and a reciprocating actuating member, a spring by means of which the reciprocatin member is adapted to actuate the sealing device bya part of its movement in one direction, a dogging means through which the compressing movement is imparted to the spring, said dogging means being adapted to release the reciprocating -member to permit it to' continue its movement independently of the spring after developing a predetermined compression in the latter, and means for detaining the dogging means, said-detaining means being released after the spring'has received its compression.

5. In a capping machine, the combination of the sealingdevice, the spring-pressed fplunger actuating the same, the reciprocat mg membe r,.a "relief mechanism. 'pivotally connected with said reciprocating member, and connections through which the I'eOlPIO- cating member impartsmovementto one end of the spring, embodying doggmg means calrlried by one of the parts and engagmg the ot er.

6. In a capping machine, the combination of the sealing device, the plunger by which it is actuated, the spring throu h which the plunger is actuate the rod t rough whichthe s ring is compressed, the reciprocating mem er, and automatically releasing do pivoted on the rod through which the reciprocating member moves t e rod, the carrying ends of said dogs whichimpinge the plunger to hold the dogs in abutting position during the first part of the movement of the reci roeating member and then escape from t e lunger and release the reciprocating memer. 8. .In a capping machine, the combination of the sealing device, the plunger by which it is actuated, the s ring throu h which the plunger is actuate the rod t rough which the s ring is compressed the reciprocating mem er, and automatically releasing dogs pivoted on the rod throu h which the reciprocating member moves t e red, the carrymg cating member; said reciprocating member passing between the dogs during its continued movement. 9. In a capping machine, the combination of the sealing device, the plunger by which it is carried, the spring through which sealing pressure is transmitted to the plunger, the dogs through which motion is imparted to the spring, the reciprocatin member imparting movement through sai clogs during the movement which develops the sealing ressure and thereafter passing between the og's, and a suitable stop arresting the upward movement of the plunger so that the reciprocating memberwlll draw out from between the dogs on its upward movement;- 10. In a sealing device for capping machmes, inner and outer cap compressing or forming sections of which one impinges the cap over a part of the area downward-from the top, and the other impinges the cap be low the same, said sections compressin inwardly the portions of the cap with w ieh" they impinge.

11. In a capping machine, inner and outer ems.

cap compressing or forming sections, of which one impin es the cap over a part of the area downward ro1n the top, and the other impinges the cap below the same, said con1- pressing sections being overlapped to break the joints between the sections, and compression by the inner member being developed from the outer member.

12. In a capping machine, inner and outer inwardly yieldlng cap-compressing or forming members constructed to res ectively imping-e the cap and ress inward y thereon at different distances 1 slow the top of the cap, and a reducing member cooperating with both said compressing members.

13. In a capping machine, inner and outer inwardly ielding cap-compressing or forming I1161I1)6IS, respectively impinging the areas of the cap at different distances from the top of the cap, and a reducing member cooperating with the outermost compression member to reduce it and through said outer member, reducing the meml? er interior th ereto; said cap-compressing or forming membel s being constructed of segments and being relatively ositioncd so that the segments of each 1116111781 cover the joints between the segments of the other member.

14. In a capping machine, inner and outer inwardly yielding cap-compressing or forming members constructed to respectively impinge the cap and ress inward y thereon at different distances :elow the top of the cap, and a reducing member cooperating with both'said compressing members; the inner cap-compressing or forming member being constructed to also bear upon the top of the cap.

1.5. In a capping machine, inner and outer inwardly yielding cap-compressingor forming' members constructed to respectively impinge the cap and ressinward y thereon at different distances slow the top of the cap,

and a reducing member cooperating withboth said compressing members; said reducing member being constructed with a plurality of independently resilient segments through which 1t presses the cap-compressing or forming members inward.

16. In a capping machine, an inner forming member compressible in volume adapted to rest upon the cap being applied, an outer forming member supported by the inner forming member and adapted to reduce the said inner member and a reducing member surrounding the outer forming member and adapted to reduce the same.

17 In a capping machine, inner and outer forming members constructed to impinge areas of the cap at diiferent distances below the top, and areducing member working over the exterior forming member and pressing said exterior and through it the interior forming member inward; said forming members being constructed of separate segments and the exterior forming member bein constructed to engage above and below t c mterior forming member so as to confine the latter against axial displacement,

18. In a capping machine, inner and outer forming members constructed to impinge areas of the cap at different distances below the top, and a reducing member working over the exterior forming member and pressing said exterior and through it the interior forming member inward; said forming members being constructed of separate segments and the exterior forming member being constructed to engage above and below the interior forming member so as to confine the latter against axial displacement; means being provided to support the forming members upon the reducing member with limited relative axial movement between said members.

19. In a capping machine, inner and outer forming members constructed to impinge areas of the cap at different distances below the top, and a reducing member working over the exterior forming member and press ing said exterior and through it the interior forming member inward said forming members bing constructed of separate segments and the exterior forming member bein constructed to engage above and below t e in- 4 terior forming member so as to confine the latter against axial displacement; and being also constructed with inclined outer faces for the im ingement of the reducing1 member.

20. n a capping machine, t e combination of the supporting body having a downwardly presented circumferentiai series of individually resilient parts, providing a .re-

ducing member, a circumferentially dis osed series of segments supported within t e reducing member, each constructed with an inclined face for the impingement of the resilient parts of the reducing member, with a lower supporting shoulder, and with a compressing face for contact with the cap and an inner segmental cap compressing or orming section, the parts of which are supported by the shoulders of the outer compressing member.

21. Ina cap ing machine, the combination of the reducm member constructed with the downwar ly presented pressmg fin ers, the segmental outer cap compressing or orming member, constructed with the inclined lower outer faces, the inturned u per ends, the inwardl presented lower shoul ers, and the inwardly presented compression faces, and su ported by its upper inturned ends within t e reducing member with limited axial movement therein, the inner segmental cap-cornpressin or forming member confined between the s oulders of the outer cap-compressing or forming and the upper interned ends thereof, and having com pression faces presented inwardly above the compression faces of the outer cap-com re'ssing, or forming member; and the spring ecated between the upper ends of the outer cap-compressin or forming member and the opposed faee o the reducing member.

22. In a. capping machine, the combinetionofthe segmental forming member having a cap-receiving cavity and the pad removably mounted in the upper end of said -eavity. l

', 23. In a cap'ping machine, a segmental arated-lower ends forming the baseof said cavity, and the cap-plate fitted to the base of the cavity, having a shank rojecting into 15 the central space between the lnturned ends, and an enlargement securing the shank against accidental withdrawal.

The foregoing s ecification signed at Washington, D. C. tii ber, 1907.

JOHN ARMSTRONG MO ANULTY In presence of two witnesses: HERVEY S. KNIGHT, EDWIN S. CLARKSON.

is 18th day of Novem- 20 

